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My husband has recently came down on soft orders for a duty station that we would like to pcs to; however there is a really high chance that EFMP will deny the location as services are more than 100 miles from the base for both of our children that are enrolled in EFMP. The location would provide my husband with key development time and is a great career move for him. At the current time our EFMP children do not require extensive medical treatment but will in roughly 4-5 years in which we would need to be close to a hospital as surgeries will be needed. We have decided it would make the best sense to go to this new location to further my husbands career and then be picky about location of the next station since that is when surgerie will be needed. If something were to arise while at this location it is less than a 7 hour drive for family to come and help and they are all more than willing to assist as needed. Can we request to pcs to the location even if EFMP denies the location?
Posted in these groups: 
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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There is no such thing as soft orders. He can have a Request For Orders (RFO) which means that all the checks and balances have been initially meet to execute issuing orders from his branch at HRC.
This includes EFMP being vetted through the installation and local economy to have services available for those members enrolled in EFMP.
There is no such assignment for key development time to be that important in which it will kill off someone's career.
You basically answered your own question... If your family feels comfortable delaying medical services, then completely cancel your EFMP and resubmit once your at the desired assignment. You most likely will be complaining the entire time that medical needs are not met....don't do that if you choose this route.
Use caution, the propose of EFMP is to have those services available. You must ensure that they are coded properly to have the service available. Example: "audiology cochlear implant" there is no code for " pediatric cochlear implant audiology" there is a massive difference with developmental needs.
My opinion: family is first. He will have just as much opportunity compared to his peers as long as he performed well at his assignment. Don't sacrifice the family for what he thinks branch at HRC is telling him is the best option. HRCs job is to get his and his families to an assignment that fits all needs.
This includes EFMP being vetted through the installation and local economy to have services available for those members enrolled in EFMP.
There is no such assignment for key development time to be that important in which it will kill off someone's career.
You basically answered your own question... If your family feels comfortable delaying medical services, then completely cancel your EFMP and resubmit once your at the desired assignment. You most likely will be complaining the entire time that medical needs are not met....don't do that if you choose this route.
Use caution, the propose of EFMP is to have those services available. You must ensure that they are coded properly to have the service available. Example: "audiology cochlear implant" there is no code for " pediatric cochlear implant audiology" there is a massive difference with developmental needs.
My opinion: family is first. He will have just as much opportunity compared to his peers as long as he performed well at his assignment. Don't sacrifice the family for what he thinks branch at HRC is telling him is the best option. HRCs job is to get his and his families to an assignment that fits all needs.
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Paula Heller
As far as "soft" orders he was told it was in the process of being vetted and that it hasn't went throught yet. As far a key development issues he is currently an E6 with 11 yrs in and has not had any line time due to our current location being a compassionate reassignment out of JBLM, at our current duty station his MOS does not exist.
We are 100% on board with staying at our current duty station and our sons doctor is willing to do whatever necessary to keep us here, however we are worried about career progression. Canceling EFMP is totally not an option but we are willing to drive outside of the 100 mile radius to ensure that medical needs are met.
His current duty station speaks very highly of him and rated him highly on his NCOER. We understand that branch is doing their job by trying to relocate ush. My husband as even offered to go unaccompained but branch says it is not an option as they can not guarantee that we will be reunited after his unaccompained assignment.
If you have any advice I greatly appericate it and will pass it along to my husband.
We are 100% on board with staying at our current duty station and our sons doctor is willing to do whatever necessary to keep us here, however we are worried about career progression. Canceling EFMP is totally not an option but we are willing to drive outside of the 100 mile radius to ensure that medical needs are met.
His current duty station speaks very highly of him and rated him highly on his NCOER. We understand that branch is doing their job by trying to relocate ush. My husband as even offered to go unaccompained but branch says it is not an option as they can not guarantee that we will be reunited after his unaccompained assignment.
If you have any advice I greatly appericate it and will pass it along to my husband.
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MAJ Jason Sierakowski
Paula Heller I understand what you're trying to describe, with the added info about your husband.
Bottom line is he needs his appropriate progression duty assignment. So yes, If branch is telling him that PCSing to an assignment to get him in a line unit again obviously makes sense. but with that, there are many different duty stations he can be at to get him in a line unit (without knowing his specific MOS I'm just giving you a generic answer). What sounds like is going on is that your husband told you the scenario that Branch described to him, you got concerned, and are trying to get more info. I will tell you that branch's job NCO or officer is to make the families travel together, unless there is extreme unforeseen circumstances that limit the NCO to an assignment.
What also sounds like that could be happening, is that the available assignments are not desirable locations for him and family to go. JBLM obviously has some of the best medical facilities on the installation at the medical mall at madigan, and with University of Washington with a lot of these services available. It's extremely difficult to leave that environment. As an example, Fort Sill Oklahoma does not have barely any resources on the installation, therefore you would be referred to Oklahoma City which is approximately 70 miles away. And services may not be available at the time of PCS. This is why EFMP is extremely important to have an update. I guarantee you and promise you and any other word you can describe, that if you go to an installation that doesn't support your EFMP you will be miserable because your children will not get the service available to them.
Moral of the story, what I'm getting at is there are assignments out there that facilitate key development, line unit assignments. The best recommendation would be for your husband to call directly to branch and discuss his options one-on-one over the phone. Research specific assignments that he can facilitate his key development, and have him see what is available during the PCS cycle. There is always more than one single option for a service member to PCS with the family and have EFMP facilitated. I would then take those specific installation assignments that he gives you, and you do some added research for services in the available area that your children can have their services completed. This way if he gives you a list that contains Fort Bragg, Fort Sill, Fort Gordon, etc. You will have a better understanding of exactly how you can manage the family dynamic with the medical services.
A final piece of advice, I highly recommend at least in our household, I manage my specific career requirements. And my wife handles nearly 95% of the family dynamic as far as what our EFMP needs are. That's easy for me to say. But we've just been doing this for so long that that's the most comfortable agenda that we've facilitated with our family.
No question is a dumb question. I would further explain that not to worry about the desirability of a location as long as it facilitates all the requirements for you and the family.
Bottom line is he needs his appropriate progression duty assignment. So yes, If branch is telling him that PCSing to an assignment to get him in a line unit again obviously makes sense. but with that, there are many different duty stations he can be at to get him in a line unit (without knowing his specific MOS I'm just giving you a generic answer). What sounds like is going on is that your husband told you the scenario that Branch described to him, you got concerned, and are trying to get more info. I will tell you that branch's job NCO or officer is to make the families travel together, unless there is extreme unforeseen circumstances that limit the NCO to an assignment.
What also sounds like that could be happening, is that the available assignments are not desirable locations for him and family to go. JBLM obviously has some of the best medical facilities on the installation at the medical mall at madigan, and with University of Washington with a lot of these services available. It's extremely difficult to leave that environment. As an example, Fort Sill Oklahoma does not have barely any resources on the installation, therefore you would be referred to Oklahoma City which is approximately 70 miles away. And services may not be available at the time of PCS. This is why EFMP is extremely important to have an update. I guarantee you and promise you and any other word you can describe, that if you go to an installation that doesn't support your EFMP you will be miserable because your children will not get the service available to them.
Moral of the story, what I'm getting at is there are assignments out there that facilitate key development, line unit assignments. The best recommendation would be for your husband to call directly to branch and discuss his options one-on-one over the phone. Research specific assignments that he can facilitate his key development, and have him see what is available during the PCS cycle. There is always more than one single option for a service member to PCS with the family and have EFMP facilitated. I would then take those specific installation assignments that he gives you, and you do some added research for services in the available area that your children can have their services completed. This way if he gives you a list that contains Fort Bragg, Fort Sill, Fort Gordon, etc. You will have a better understanding of exactly how you can manage the family dynamic with the medical services.
A final piece of advice, I highly recommend at least in our household, I manage my specific career requirements. And my wife handles nearly 95% of the family dynamic as far as what our EFMP needs are. That's easy for me to say. But we've just been doing this for so long that that's the most comfortable agenda that we've facilitated with our family.
No question is a dumb question. I would further explain that not to worry about the desirability of a location as long as it facilitates all the requirements for you and the family.
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What are soft orders? Was he given choices by branch and this station is among them? Has he been given levy notice or an RFO?
EFMP is not a one size fits all, especially as they have expanded what is covered by the program. Overseas assignments are the hardest to accommodate and may result in an unaccompanied assignment.
The details are important here, not for the people on RP but for your current provider, losing station EFMP office, and gaining EFMP office. I would have to do deep research to figuring out the impact of shrugging off EFMP services. You mentioned surgeries in the next 4-5 years. The gaining EFMP office can figure out whether they are available. That four way conversation is important. Gt them involved sooner than later. This communication takes time.
EFMP is not a one size fits all, especially as they have expanded what is covered by the program. Overseas assignments are the hardest to accommodate and may result in an unaccompanied assignment.
The details are important here, not for the people on RP but for your current provider, losing station EFMP office, and gaining EFMP office. I would have to do deep research to figuring out the impact of shrugging off EFMP services. You mentioned surgeries in the next 4-5 years. The gaining EFMP office can figure out whether they are available. That four way conversation is important. Gt them involved sooner than later. This communication takes time.
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Paula Heller
Soft orders from my understanding means that orders are pending but not official yet and are in the stages of going through EFMP process. We were not given choices by branch this time around. A few months back branch contacted him with about 7 duty stations we did research and said that none of them had the care we would need, branch then processed each station and it was decided that they all came back with services unavailable. We have been at our current duty station for 3.5 years as a compassionate reassignment in which my husband does not fulfill a job directly correlated with his MOS of 11B. He is an E6 with 11 years. We have been denied basically everywhere and were relocated from JBLM because services were not available.
One of our sons has a very rare birth defect that only about 8 hospitals in the US actually have the necessary expertise to handle, which is why we are at our current duty station. Branch has tried to relocate us many times and it always comes back denied because of EFMP, however we are concerned that my husbands career will not progress if we stay here as he can not actually aquire line time to meet key development. He has offered to go unaccompained but branch is instant that if he goes unaccompained somewehre they can not promise we will ever be reunited while he is active duty.
I have done my my own research and there is not a hospital in a 150 mile radius that can care for my son with the rare birth defect. We will not change our EFMP status to get to a new location, but are willing to travel when care is needed during the next few years, however when the times for surgeries apporoach we would want to be near a hospital that can preform the surgeries correctly (as we have had previsouly failed surgeries because some doctors have big egos and think they can care for him).
I have already started the converstaion with the gaining location EFMP and will be talking with medical efmp there on monday. Typically every time I contact a gaining location they tell bracnh it is a no go because of the treatment plan for our son. Our pertnet for EFMP is very clear in the needs that have to be met to care for him and most places can not do that.
We of course want to put the needs of our children first and foremost but would like for him to hit his 20 year mark and feel that his career will be hindered if we don't think outside of the box so to speak.
One of our sons has a very rare birth defect that only about 8 hospitals in the US actually have the necessary expertise to handle, which is why we are at our current duty station. Branch has tried to relocate us many times and it always comes back denied because of EFMP, however we are concerned that my husbands career will not progress if we stay here as he can not actually aquire line time to meet key development. He has offered to go unaccompained but branch is instant that if he goes unaccompained somewehre they can not promise we will ever be reunited while he is active duty.
I have done my my own research and there is not a hospital in a 150 mile radius that can care for my son with the rare birth defect. We will not change our EFMP status to get to a new location, but are willing to travel when care is needed during the next few years, however when the times for surgeries apporoach we would want to be near a hospital that can preform the surgeries correctly (as we have had previsouly failed surgeries because some doctors have big egos and think they can care for him).
I have already started the converstaion with the gaining location EFMP and will be talking with medical efmp there on monday. Typically every time I contact a gaining location they tell bracnh it is a no go because of the treatment plan for our son. Our pertnet for EFMP is very clear in the needs that have to be met to care for him and most places can not do that.
We of course want to put the needs of our children first and foremost but would like for him to hit his 20 year mark and feel that his career will be hindered if we don't think outside of the box so to speak.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Paula Heller - sounds like he is on levy. RFOs are Officer specific. perhaps reclassing to another MOS would help somewhat, not sure what his options are. This is a tough row to hoe. What installations are near those 8 hospitals? Is taking a year unaccompanied in Korea an option? One usually gets choice of duty on the way back. So 1 in Korea, then three at next station gets you to 15 years. Another option may be to ETS with the intent of getting an AGR slot and finishing 20 that way. Something to explore. AGR is not a guaranteed lock for stability but it is as close as anyone will get.
The branch can't guarantee you'll be reunited again after a short tour....ok maybe not at JBLM since there is no slot for an 11B30 or 11B40. Where else?
The branch can't guarantee you'll be reunited again after a short tour....ok maybe not at JBLM since there is no slot for an 11B30 or 11B40. Where else?
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Paula Heller
Fort Irwin is about 160 miles from needed hosptial of CHLA
Fort Meade is 70 miles, we are currently stationed in Maryland about 45 miles from the hospital.
Fort Knox about 160 miles away but hospital is 2 hours from family so is feasible for family care plan.
Chicago, Wisconsin, Boston, and Philadelphia: none of these are closer than 150 miles to a duty station.
Husband has offered to take a year unaccompained to Korea and branch said no because it doesn't meet key development time for him. Branch suggested a compassionate stabilization but we are not in need of anything major for the next few years as far a medical needs as right now everything is just making sure that he maintains his progress and works towards the goals to be eligible for the next needed surgery.
We have explore the AGR options and my husband is not sold on it probably because most slots are for recrutier.
Reclass is something he is looking at but it would appear that with such a high TIS reclassing is pretty hard to come by from my understanding. Our current duty station is willing to help him and our family in any way needed but have not been met with a situation like ours and have been putting fillers out to see what can be done to help him or even see if he can be reassigned locally within our current geographical area.
Fort Meade is 70 miles, we are currently stationed in Maryland about 45 miles from the hospital.
Fort Knox about 160 miles away but hospital is 2 hours from family so is feasible for family care plan.
Chicago, Wisconsin, Boston, and Philadelphia: none of these are closer than 150 miles to a duty station.
Husband has offered to take a year unaccompained to Korea and branch said no because it doesn't meet key development time for him. Branch suggested a compassionate stabilization but we are not in need of anything major for the next few years as far a medical needs as right now everything is just making sure that he maintains his progress and works towards the goals to be eligible for the next needed surgery.
We have explore the AGR options and my husband is not sold on it probably because most slots are for recrutier.
Reclass is something he is looking at but it would appear that with such a high TIS reclassing is pretty hard to come by from my understanding. Our current duty station is willing to help him and our family in any way needed but have not been met with a situation like ours and have been putting fillers out to see what can be done to help him or even see if he can be reassigned locally within our current geographical area.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Paula Heller - having served at Irwin and San Bernardino, you could neck down that 160 miles to 120 by living in Barstow/Linwood, or 90 miles by living in Victorville/ Hesperia/Phelan CA. Your main obstacle would be traffic in the Cajon Pass and once you got "down the hill" . Your husband would have to commute an hour to ninety minutes one way everyday. Professional development wise, his branch would have to sit down and STFU (pardon my French). That is KD as it gets, whether in OPS Group or 11th ACR. I was in 11th ACR. I lived on post for almost three years in the BOQs then moved to Barstow when I got married for my last year. My wife worked in Victorville, so we split the difference. It can be and is done by many stationed there but it is intentionally added difficulty. He will be on rotation every month. If he has not been mech, this will be an learning experience for him. If Irwin worked for your family, I believe it is like pushing on an open door to go OPFOR to Ops Group and stay there. I knew people who stayed for 6-8 years on the NCO side.
It is not just the existence of a post, it's the availability of 11series slots. It would be the presence of an infantry unit on said post.
It's about all I know on this. Not sure what else I could tell you that would help.
It is not just the existence of a post, it's the availability of 11series slots. It would be the presence of an infantry unit on said post.
It's about all I know on this. Not sure what else I could tell you that would help.
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My daughter has an EFMP - since six weeks old. She got diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at 6 weeks old. I got a compassionate to Offutt AFB Ne from Ft Riley since I am from Nebraska and she was diagnosed there. I did about almost 4 years there - I got an extra 10 months after my 3 years was up from the medical stabilization (which only gives you 4 years from the date EFMP was approved).
When I was figuring out where to go next nearly everything that branch came back with said EFMP denied. Although I'm glad I didn't go to Hood - it's close-ish to home. 12 hour drive. They said no -twice. The first time I hadn't updated her EFMP post transplant. Did it - still denied and talked to EFMP there and said could not provide services despite there being a transplant clinic 20 min from Hood. I did have pending orders for Hood for a month and a half actually. I'm not sure how since EFMP said that they denied it twice the day it was submitted by branch.
I'm at JBLM because that's the only place that would take her EFMP. But before that - on my compassionate despite being intel and I was in an intel job it was a joint unit. Yeah my career did suffer for it. I had to defer SLC 3 times because of my daughter's condition - and I became a single mom when she was a year old. She's six now.
I could probably be a MSG by now if I had been able to go to SLC in 2015 when I first had a class date but my daughter was more important. She still is. Right now I'm pushing four more years to 20 solely because of her.
From what I understand and can tell in a quick search that once you are enrolled in EFMP, that's going to take priority for assignments. If a SM has dependents enrolled in EFMP - that's going to determine assignments. That's from what I can gather.
Have you talked to the EFMP on base?
When I was figuring out where to go next nearly everything that branch came back with said EFMP denied. Although I'm glad I didn't go to Hood - it's close-ish to home. 12 hour drive. They said no -twice. The first time I hadn't updated her EFMP post transplant. Did it - still denied and talked to EFMP there and said could not provide services despite there being a transplant clinic 20 min from Hood. I did have pending orders for Hood for a month and a half actually. I'm not sure how since EFMP said that they denied it twice the day it was submitted by branch.
I'm at JBLM because that's the only place that would take her EFMP. But before that - on my compassionate despite being intel and I was in an intel job it was a joint unit. Yeah my career did suffer for it. I had to defer SLC 3 times because of my daughter's condition - and I became a single mom when she was a year old. She's six now.
I could probably be a MSG by now if I had been able to go to SLC in 2015 when I first had a class date but my daughter was more important. She still is. Right now I'm pushing four more years to 20 solely because of her.
From what I understand and can tell in a quick search that once you are enrolled in EFMP, that's going to take priority for assignments. If a SM has dependents enrolled in EFMP - that's going to determine assignments. That's from what I can gather.
Have you talked to the EFMP on base?
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